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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has named a 15-member squad for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2. Nigar Sultana will continue to lead the side, having captained Bangladesh in their maiden Women’s World Cup campaign in 2022.
Nigar Sultana’s leadership and inclusion of 2 teenagers
One of only three Bangladesh women to have scored over 1,000 ODI runs, Nigar brings invaluable experience and leadership to a team eager to improve on their seventh-place finish in New Zealand three years ago. The squad also features wicketkeeper-batter Rubya Haider Jhelik, who has earned her maiden ODI call-up after six T20I appearances, representing Khulna and Barisal Divisions domestically. Nigar’s leadership, coupled with Haider’s dual role as wicketkeeper and middle-order batter, gives the side tactical flexibility, which could be pivotal against stronger opponents.
Bangladesh’s spin department is expected to play a crucial role in the World Cup, with seasoned left-arm spinner Nahid Akter and leg-spinner Fahima Khatun providing control and wicket-taking options. Alongside them, young talents Shorna Akter and Marufa Akter are likely to add depth and variation to the bowling attack.
Bangladesh further included two teenagers, Nishita Akter, a 17-year-old offspinner, and Sumaiya Akter, a 19-year-old batter. Both players recently featured for Bangladesh at the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup held in Malaysia in February, and their selection marks an important step in fast-tracking youth into the senior side. Nishita’s spin skills bring variation to the bowling department, while Sumaiya’s batting promise offers depth to the line-up, signaling Bangladesh’s intent to invest in the next generation of cricketers on the global stage.
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Bangladesh’s warm-up fixtures and opening clash against Pakistan
Ahead of their tournament opener, Bangladesh will play warm-up matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka on September 25 and 27 respectively. These fixtures will allow the team to acclimatize to conditions in Colombo and fine-tune combinations. Bangladesh opens its World Cup campaign against regional rivals Pakistan on October 2 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. The match is expected to be crucial, setting the tone for Bangladesh’s performance in the multi-nation championship.
Bangladesh secured their spot in the Women’s World Cup through the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Lahore earlier this year. The tournament, featuring six teams, Bangladesh, Pakistan, West Indies, Ireland, Scotland and Thailand, saw the side begin with three consecutive victories over Scotland and Ireland, establishing early momentum. However, losses to West Indies and Pakistan made their qualification hopes uncertain. In a dramatic finale, despite losing to Pakistan by seven wickets, Bangladesh advanced to the World Cup thanks to a superior net run rate over the West Indies, who narrowly missed out on qualification. This pathway highlights the resilience and competitive spirit of the squad ahead of the main event.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
